The long-rumored paid subscription service from Hulu could be arriving imminently, at least if new rumors are to be believed. And it looks as though the Apple iPad and the Microsoft Xbox 360 games console are getting it first.
Hulu Subscription Service
It was over a year ago that talk began of Hulu charging for access to its service. The rumors were then refined a little, so that while nothing has yet been officially announced, we kind of know what to expect when Hulu actually comes out with its plans.
It looks as though Hulu’s paid subscription service will be in addition rather than instead of the free service. And for $10 or so, subscribers will gain access to older shows, and full seasons of current shows.
And Hulu will also, finally, move beyond the PC.
Coming Soon To iPad, Xbox?
The new rumors are courtesy of Reuters, which has spoken to multiple sources and got a more definite timeline of the plans. The source claims that paid-for Hulu will be coming to the iPad and the Xbox 360 (at the very least) in the next month or two.
Hulu on the iPad makes perfect sense. And it’s been rumored from even before the Apple tablet was released. IPad owners are already consuming a lot of video, and the companies behind Hulu will not want to miss out on an early piece of the action.
The Xbox 360 rumor is much more recent, and if it happens then it would be more surprising. Hulu has been resistant to making its service available on televisions sets until now, with the networks worried of where this will lead. So Hulu on the Xbox 360 would be a brave and unexpected move.
The Devil Is In The Details
The fact is that this is all rumor and speculation at this point. A paid subscription service from Hulu is almost guaranteed to be happening, and soon, but the devil is in the details.
Until the details are unveiled, it’s too early to know how this will pan out. But so long as a free version remains, Hulu should grow as a result.
